Integrated waste management strategy for Chennai nears completion

The city is all set to adopt an integrated solid waste management strategy to cope with emerging challenges to implementation of projects.

A meeting to finalise the report on integrated solid waste management strategy was held on Tuesday with international consultants of Cities Development Initiative for Asia (CDIA), a regional initiative that provides assistance to Asian cities to bridge the gap between their development plans and the implementation of their infrastructure projects.

“We incorporated ideas and suggestions today. The final report will be adopted by the Chennai Corporation shortly. Any new project pertaining to solid waste in the city will be designed and implemented according to the strategy,” said a senior official of the Corporation.

“Most of the solid waste management projects in other cities have failed. This strategy is intended at making projects successful in Chennai,” the official added.

New initiatives for primary collection of waste, remediation of existing dumping yards and waste processing will be launched only after the strategy is adopted. Bids for the primary collection using the new strategy are expected to be floated next month.

According to sources in the Corporation, the key aspects of the strategy will include those focussing on reduction of waste generated in the city, mainstreaming of informal groups associated with recycling and bringing down the quantity of waste in landfills. The civic body now generates over 4,500 tonnes of municipal solid waste on a daily basis.

The Corporation council has already approved private participation in solid waste management.

Officials from Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Financial Services Ltd will help the Corporation zero in on the right technology based on the strategy. A waste-characterisation study for the city will also be conducted as part of the strategy.